U.S. Envoy John Coale in Belarus: Prisoner Releases and Unfreezing of Belarusian Assets on the Agenda

United States special envoy John Coale arrived in Minsk on Monday for a meeting with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, as part of the intensification of American diplomatic engagement with Moscow’s closest ally.

At the center of the talks is expected to be the release of political prisoners in exchange for further easing of U.S. sanctions. According to announcements, the agenda also includes issues such as nuclear materials, the reopening of embassies and a possible U.S. purchase of Belarusian chemical fertilizers (potash).

Coale stated that the United States has asked banks to unfreeze Belarusian assets and that work is underway on a mechanism that would enable their release.

This is Coale’s first visit to Belarus in six months; earlier he secured the release of hundreds of political prisoners in exchange for sanctions relief. Lukashenko is considered Moscow’s most loyal ally and has allowed Russian forces to use Belarusian territory in the war against Ukraine.

The visit comes after U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff failed to achieve any significant progress during talks in Moscow and Kyiv.

Source: The Kyiv Independent